The rival faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, led by Godspower Ake, on Monday asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the national leadership of the party, to warn the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike and the Felix Obuah, to desist from making statements that are capable of heating up the polity.
A statement by Rivers State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. George Ukwuoma, said that the actions of Wike and Obuah were largely responsible for the political crisis in the state.
He said such statements, include Obuah’s congratulatory message to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as Chairman of NGF, even when it was clear to the whole country and the entire world that Governor Amaechi defeated Jang with a clear 19 to 16 votes and is the authentic chairman of NGF.
According to him, another instance is Obuah’s congratulatory message to Mr. Evans Bipi of Rivers State House of Assembly, who proclaimed himself Speaker of the Assembly after a failed attempt by him and four other members to impeach the Speaker, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree,leading to a heavy mayhem at the Assembly with the help of their thugs and police accomplices.
He asked: “Or is Obuah saying to the state and the country that five is greater than 27? It’s never possible for 5 members out of a 32-member Assembly to carry out an impeachment process. We have watched with dismay and utter disgust the way and manner Wike has carried on as if he is the alternate, most times, substantive governor of the state.
“This is most condemnable. That young man(Wike) is just a Minister, a Deputy Minister at that, and must be reminded at all times that there is only one Governor and leader of the party in the state, which is Governor Amaechi and he must subjugate himself to the leadership of the Governor or get out of the party.
Continuing, “This Wike group is only deceiving the President and the party leadership, claiming that they have the support of the people when it’s clear they don’t. What they are doing is destroying the party. The people working with them are not card carrying members of PDP.
“They mostly consist of expired politicians and deadwoods. These are the people Wike brought to Abuja as PDP leaders. They are not even PDP members.”
The Ake-led faction maintained that vast majority of Rivers people and Rivers PDP are solidly behind Governor Amaechi, as well as people from the grassroots.
“Elected and appointed PDP leaders from Ward to the national level are solidly behind Governor Amaechi. So Wike and Obuah’s claim to the presidency that they are in control should be put to a stop now as it would end up destroying the formidable structure built by the PDP in the state.
“In fact, we challenge them to call for a meeting of elected and appointed leaders of the party in the state from ward to national level, let’s see how many will attend. This will prove that their purported clout in the state PDP is false. They should stop deceiving the party and Mr. President.
“We urge our dear President, Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to take steps and immediately call to order and correct this false campaign being carried out by Wike, his acolyte Obuah and their minute minority, which is threatening to swallow and destroy PDP in the state,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Felix Obuah leadership of the party has criticised Governor Amaechi for abandoning one of the injured lawmakers, Mr. Michael Chinda in a London hospital.
A statement by his media aide, decried the governor’s hard position, saying he cared less since Chinda was not in his camp.
“The Rivers State leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, condemns Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s unconcern attitude to the welfare of the injured lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency II, Hon. Michael Chinda and his preference to hosting of arranged solidarity visits have further exposed his unremorseful and unforgiving spirit.
The aide noted that Obuah, had visited the lawmaker in his London hospital in company of other prominent political leaders from the state.
The statement added that “Obuah regretted that despite the frightening state of the lawmaker’s health occasioned by the devastating attack on him by Chidi Lloyd, Gov. Amaechi Ap rather chose to be hosting solidarity visits from his instigators at the expense of the depleting Rivers resources.”
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